Wheeled figure toy



April 17,1951 ox 2,549,668

- WHEELEl; FIGURE TOY Filed July 9, 1948 Gerald C. Cox

IN V EN TOR.

BY am Patented Apr. 17, 1951 J WHEELED FIGURE TOY Gerald C. Cox, La Crosse, Wis..

assignor of twenty-five per cent to Robert G. Carroll and twenty-five per cent to Robert A. Spika, both of La Crosse, Wis.

Application July 9, 1948, Serial No. 37,822

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel figure toy characterized by a simple wheeled support which carries and operates an animated body representing, by preference, a duck or the like.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention I provide a movable support which takes the form of a wheel supported axle, the figure toy being rockably mounted on the axle between the wheels and being tiltable and selfrighting, whereby the headed end of the toy periodically dips, as the support travels, to simulate the act of eating or pecking, as the case may be.

More specifically, the tiltable rockably mounted duck is actuated by unique trip and trigger means wherein the trip element is mounted in the forward end portion of the duck and the trigger element is carried by the axle and intermittently and releasably swung into actuable contact with such element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical andrup-to-date figure toy constructed along the stated lines. the same embodying novel powering means in the form of a simple rubber band and a friction clutch and an associated band winding and brake lever which, inuse, has dragging contact with the supporting surface. I

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description in the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a figure toy, or toy duck, constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and showing the manner in which same travels along a surface;

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view on the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in-the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a view like Figure 2 showing the manner in which the duck is tilted;

Figure 4 is a central vertical cross section on the line 44 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing, in section, the essential details.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals and accompanying lead lines, the mobile support, as a unitary device, is denoted by the numeral 1 and comprises an open ended tubular rigid axle 8 having surface con-- tacting wheels 9 and I0 secured to opposite end portions. The wheel 9 is provided with a periph- 2 eral rubber or equivalent tire ll carrying traction lugs 12. The wheel H! is likewise provided with a corresponding peripheral or rim tire l3 having traction lugs i 4. As shown better in Figures 4 and 5. the outer visible side of the wheel In is rovided at its center with a circular recess I5 which serves to accommodate simple friction clutch means. This comprises a ring ['6 of wax or an equivalent slip-annulus which is seated in the recess in the manner shown in Figure 4. It serves as a backing element for the wooden or equivalent clutch ring I! which is partly seated in the recess and has friction wiping conta t with the ring 16. The outer side of the clutch ring I! is provided with diametrically 0pposite grooves I 8 and these serve to accommodate the stick portion l9 of a lever. The lever functions as a winding member and also has a drag brake and has a suitable drag element or ball 20 on its trailin end which is adapted to drag along in contact with the floor or other supporting surfaces. Fitted in the hub portion of the first wheel 9 and mounted in the adjacent end portion of the axle is a cross pin or spider 2| around which a sturdy rubber band 22 loops. The o posite end portions of the band, as at 23 in Figures 1, 4 and 5, loop around the adjacent end portion of the lever or stick l9 and serves to hold the same in the grooves I8 and thus the clutch elements are pro erly assembled in the pocket or recess l5.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that the trip element or pin is actually in the form of a screw 24 which is adjustably threaded through a screw hole in the fore portion of the figure toy or duck 25. The head of the screw 26 is accessible for adjustment purposes. The s ring or resilient trigger is a simple spring clip 21 secured by an ap ropriate fastener 28 to the central portion of the axle and located within the hollow confines of the duck. The spring clip has a laterally bent end which sweeps into brushing contact with the adjacent inner end of the trip pin 24 in an obvious periodic or intermittent manner.

The duck, which is the type of figure preferably employed, is provided in its bottom with a slot 29 which permits access to be had to the interior for bending or repairing the spring clip. Also, as shown in the drawings, the duck is rock ably mounted between its center and forward portion on the axle and is therefore tiltable and self righting. Its normal position is that shown in'Figure 2 where the rear end drags on the surface.

' Briefly, reviewing the disclosure, particularly 3 the drawings, it will be seen that my novelty toy has to do with a self propelled structure comprising a horizontal axle, wheels on the end portions of the axle, rubber band propulsion means, confined primarily in the axle, and acting on said wheels to rotate the latter and to thus motivate the so-called support I. A hollow figure 25 is counterbalanced and freely rockable'on the intermediate portion of the axle 8 and is situated between the two wheels 9 and H). The toy is tiltable forwardly and downwardly from the normal position seen in Figure 2 to the position seen in Figure 3 to depict the act of eating, drinking, or pecking and said toy then resumes its normal horizontal position, being self-righting;

In practice, the lever 19 serves to twist and thus wind and tension the rubber. band. The.

toy is simply held in one hand and the lever in the other and the lever is rotated, free rotationbeing permitted by the clutch elements l6 and i'Land the fact that the lever'is seated by the A band in the keying notches-or grooves Hi. When the toy is fully wound up and placed on the floor or other-surface, the trailing ball 2!! drags and provides a brake, thesanie operatingin a well known manner. the necessary rotary stresson the spider 2| and turns the wheel 9 and consequently the fixed axle Band :wheeliil. Thus, thetruckor support travels along and the friction clutchmeans permits slow unwinding of the band; Asthe toy travels along the clip 21, sweeps around, inan orbital path, and'periodically strikes thelinner end of thetrip pin 24. It follows that this intermittent' push and release action tiltsthev duck forwardly. anddownwardly as shown in Figure 3. Then the duck, by forces of gravity returns to its normal rearwardly and downwardly inclined position, that which is shown in Figure 2.

It will be noted that the lever may be readily slipped out of the looped end 23 ofrtherubber band anddisengaged from the notches-in the clutch ring H. This makes it possible to readily As the band unwinds it imposes Incidentally, the spider or pin 2!, is a removable element and fits in diametricallyopposite notches 2m formed in the .end portion of the axle as shown in Figure 4 thus permitting ready renewal Minor changes in shape,,size, materials or.

rearrangement of parts. may be resorted toin actual practice so long as no departure .is made from the inventionas claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A self-propelled figure toy comprising anaxle, wheels on the ends ofsaidaxle, propulsion means in said axle acting on-said wheels to 'ro tate the latter, a hollow figure toy freely rockable intermediate its ends onsaid axle and situated between said wheels, said toyrepresenting a duck andbeingtiltable forwardly and-down wardly to depict the act of eating ordrinking, and being self-righting to assume a normal position, a springy clip; constituting a-tr-igger, secured to said axle, and a trip pin mounted in said toy 1 in the path of movement-of said clip;-

2. A mobile figure toy of the class shown and described comprising a rollable support, a tiltable self-righting figure toy rockably mounted intermediate its ends on said support, a projectible and retractible screw adjustably mounted in the forward end portion of said figure, and a resilient escapement trigger carried by said support and rotatable therewith and periodically and releasably engageable with said screw.

3; A mobile figure toy of the class shown and described comprising a rollable support, a tiltableself-righting figure toy rockably mounted intermediate its ends on said support, a projectible and retractiblescrew adjustably mounted in the forward end portion of said figure and a resilient escapement trigger carried by said support and rotatable therewith and periodically and releasably engageable with said screw, said trigger being a spring clip, the free tip of which swings into releasable contact with an end of said screw.

4. A self propelled-figure toy comprisinga support embodying a hollow open ended axle, wheels secured rigidly to theend portions of said axle, a spider spanning one end of said axle and serving to rotate one wheel, the remaining wheel having a recess in line with axle, an annular hub rotatable in said recess, a lever carried by said hub with one end adapted'to drag on the supporting surface, a .rubber band in said .axle and looped at one end-around said spider and the other end around-said lever, one end portion of said lever having; a ball like element thereon serving as adrag shoe, a figure. toy rockably mounted on theaxle between the wheels, and coacting trip means-between the axle and figure toy'for tilting .thelatter.

5. A self propelled figure toy comprising a support embodying a hollow open ended axle, wheels secured rigidly to theendporti-ons of said axle, a spider spanning one end of said axle and serving to rotate one wheel, the remaining wheel having a recess in line with said axle, an annular hub rotatable in said recess, a lever carried by said hub with one end adapted to drag on the supporting surface, a rubber band in said axle and looped at one end around said spider @spring clip carried by saidaxle and releasably engageablewith an adjacent end portion of said trip pin.

6. A mobile figure toy of the class shown and described comprising a rollable support, a horizontally elongated tiltable self-righting figure toy rockably mounted intermediate its ends on said support, a trip member adjustably mounted in a predetermined portion of said figure, and an. escapement trigger. carried by said support and rota-table therewith and periodically and releasably engageable with said trip member.

'7. A mobile figure toy of the class shown and described comprising a rollable support, a horizontally elongated normally reaiwardly inclined,

tiltable self-righting figure toy rockably mounted intermediate its ends on said support, a trip pin adjustably mounted in the forward portion of said toy, and a resilient escapementtrigger carried by said support and rotatable therewith,

and periodically and releasably engageable with said trip pin.

8. A self-propelled figure toy comprising an axle, wheels on the ends of said axle, a figure toy freely rockable intermediate its ends on said axle and situated between said wheeels, said axle, wheels on the ends of said axle, said wheels being provided with traction lugs, a spider spanning one end of said axle and serving to rotate said wheel, the remainin wheel having axle, wheels on the ends of said axle, a spider V an elastic band having one end portion looped around said spider and the other end thereof being looped around said lever, a hollow figure toy freely rockable intermediate its ends on said axle and situated between said wheels, said toy representing a duck and bein tiltable forwardly V and downwardly to depict the act of eating or drinking and being self-righting to assume a normal position, a springy clip, constituting a trigger, secured to said axle, and a trip pin mounted in said toy in the path of movement of said clip.

10. A self-propelled figure toy comprising an axle, wheels on the ends of said axle, traction lugs carried by said wheels, a spider spanning one end of said axle and serving to rotate said wheels, the remaining wheel having a recess in line with said axle, an annular hub rotatable in said recess, said hub having a pair of diametrically opposite keying notches, a lever having one end portion seated in said notches, a rubber band having one end portion looped around said spider and the other end thereof being looped around said lever, a hollow figure toy freely rockable intermediate its ends on said axle and situa recess in line with said axle, an annular hub having diametrically opposite keying notches in said recess, an annular plastic ring in said recess between said annular hub and the wall of said recess said ring permitting independent rotation of said hub with respect to said last named wheel, a lever having one end portion seated in said notches, a rubber band having one end portion looped around said spider and the other end thereof being looped around said lever, a hollow figure toy freely rockable intermediate its ends on said axle and situated between said wheels, said toy representing a duck and being tiltable forwardly and downwardly to depict the act of eating or drinking and being selfrighting to assume a normal position, a springy clip constituting a trigger secured to said axle,

and a trip pin mounted in said toy in the path of movement of said clip. 1

GERALD C. COX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 85,727 Cleveland Jan. 12, 1869 1,223,287 7 Morse Apr. 17, 1917 1,461,932 Penksa July 17, 1923' 2,015,009 Erickson Sept. 17, 1935 2,091,347 Yates Aug. 31, 1937 2,424,607 Fisher July 29, 1947 

